Explanations demanded after England derailed

England selector Geoff Miller demanded an explanation from skipper Michael Vaughan, who described selection for the disastrous second Test against South Africa as "confused" as a trio of former captains Wednesday spoke out.

The selectors have come in for criticism, most particularly over the late call-up of Nottinghamshire debutant seamer Darren Pattinson, who had made just 11 previous first-class appearances.

Following the 10-wicket thrashing which put South Africa 1-0 up in the four-Test series Miller told the Daily Telegraph: "The selectors are not here to make Michael's job harder, which is why I'd like him to clarify his comments.

"It's been made into a massive issue by the media and I want to hear his side of the story."

Miller also told The Sun: "I'm the national selector, Michael is the captain - we're both in this together."

Three former England captains added their voices to the debate amid doubts as to who had the final say on the selection of 29-year-old Pattinson.

Ian Botham said in his column for the Daily Mirror that the selectors had made "appalling, embarrassing and downright wrong" decisions.